Page 31 of Memento Mori
It was the first time he had shown any hint of humor since Laney and my father passed away. And I’d never known how much I missed it until now.
Laney was buried a few days ago. It was difficult watching Alessandro mourn her loss. He loved her and they weren’t able to make things right before she died, which I knew was killing him. But every time I asked if he needed to talk, he always declined. He said it wouldn’t change anything.
I made sure to cover the expenses for Laney’s funeral. It was the least I could do. I provided her parents with a severance package as well. She was a loyal employee, and I considered her a friend. They wouldn’t have to worry about anything for as long as they lived.
“Most of these people couldn’t stand Papa,” Chantal chimed in, laying her head against her husband’s chest. “I hate all the fakeness. Just be who you are. If you don’t like the man, why even be here?”
“You know that’s not how it works Chan. Respect goes a long way in this world,” Alessandro said. “Not showing up can cause a lot of unnecessary bloodshed.”
“He’s right, Chan.” Daniel said, pulling Chantal closer to him. “It’s the same in the biker world. Respect is everything.”
“It’s just a bunch of dumb shit that’s all I’m saying,” she responded, shrugging. “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer is something I could never get used to.”
“But it’s something that kept Papa alive a lot longer than most Don’s,” Alessandro said.
We all sat in silence for a few minutes, letting Alessandro’s words sink in. Among the Five Families, Papa held control the longest, ascending to power at twenty-one, the youngest person to ever do so. He also led the largest organization. For over forty years he ran the Rizzo Famiglia, now that he was gone, it was up to me to continue his legacy.
“It’s doesn’t sit right with me, how he died,” Alessandro blurted out, getting everyone’s attention. “How either one of them died.”
My thoughts were the same, but I only voiced them to Aaliyah. I wasn’t sure how my brother and sister would take the news. Despite my mother’s dramatics today, there was just something in my gut telling me, she had something to do with the shooting especially the way she’d been acting since my father gave us his blessing to marry.
“I thought the same thing,” I said.
Everyone, except Aaliyah, had a surprised look on their faces when they looked at me. Aaliyah and I talked about the potential involvement of my mother in my father’s death. Aaliyah didn’t trust her, and neither did I.
“I’m not sure who had helped her pull this off, but I believe Marianna had something to do with his death,” I continued. “But what I need is proof.”
“Wait. You think she had something to do with Papa’s death?” Anger welled up in Chan’s eyes. “I knew she hated me, but why would she turn on him?”
“Because he never loved her. And she felt the little power she had slipping away when announced my marriage to Aaliyah.” I pecked Aaliyah on the lips before I took a sip of whiskey from my rocks glass. “She would no longer be Donna as soon as Papa stepped aside which we had already discussed would be soon.All the loyalty, prestige, that comes with that would be Aaliyah’s now.”
“But killing him caused you to take over quicker,” Chantal said.
“He wasn’t the target, Aaliyah was,” I said. “Papa and Laney where just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“What’s her endgame?” Alessandro asked. “What would killing Aaliyah do other than cause you to burn this city to the ground?”
“I’m not sure, but Aaliyah picked up on some chatter on the dark web. Something is coming, but we haven’t found out what yet or who is behind it. But we think Marianna has something to do with it.”
“More than this?” Alessandro asked. “More than killing our father? More than killing Laney?”
Alessandro’s eyes were filled with an undeniable fire. He held on to the love for our mother much longer than I had. He always believed she could be redeemed. I knew otherwise. Marianna Rizzo was vindictive and was as evil as they came. There would be no redemption for her. She could only beg for forgiveness and salvation when she met her maker. Which would be soon if I could prove she had something to do with all this.
“Yes,” was my simple response.
What more could I say? Our mother had tried to have kill my wife and, in the process, killed our father and the woman Alessandro loved.
“She can’t get away with this Tony!” Chantal shouted. “She killed him!”
“She killed Laney,” Alessandro said.
“And she won’t get away with it,” I said. “We just need to keep our cool a little longer. Hold on until we have something concrete.”
While seated on my lap, Aaliyah wrapped her arms around me. We’d only been married a little over a week, but it seemed like we’d known each other a lifetime. She was the best thing that had ever happened to me. I was thankful my father had given his blessing and had been there to see the wedding.
Aaliyah ran her hands through my hair. The gentle touch of her fingertips on my scalp made me moan.
“I can’t wait to get you home,” I whispered in her ear. “I need you.”
